RSS Feedhttps://10.40.239.129/blogs/rss-feed/Blog RSS Feeden{E16E3E8D-E31B-4514-84CF-0881C84D81A2}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2016/11/heart-failure-patients-get-help-prevent-hospital-stay/Heart Failure Patients Get Personal Help to Prevent Another Hospital Stay<p>The transition cardiac care manager is a new position at the hospital that will focus on helping CFH patients be successful as they begin making the lifestyle changes needed to keep their disease under control. And hopefully, that will prevent them from returning to the hospital.</p>
<p>&ldquo;This has huge potential especially because heart failure is a diagnosis where lifestyle makes a tremendous difference in how well a patient recovers,&rdquo; says Joe Mitchell, RN. &ldquo;A lot of times patients don&rsquo;t realize how much better they&rsquo;ll feel if they follow the recommendations day to day.&rdquo;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-failure/basics/definition/con-20029801" target="_blank">CHF is a chronic condition</a> where the heart does not pump blood as well as it should. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, swollen legs and rapid heartbeat. It can&rsquo;t be cured, but a person can live for years with proper treatment and management.</p>
<h3>What the Transition Cardiac Care Manager Does</h3>
<p>As the new transition cardiac care manager, Joe meets with high-risk CHF patients while they&rsquo;re still in the hospital to start the education process. He then makes at least one follow-up visit to patients&rsquo; residences to ensure their transition to the new lifestyle is going well. Joe&rsquo;s position is the first of its kind in the Intermountain system.</p>
<p>In a patient&rsquo;s home, Joe verifies the right medications are being taken properly or explains the complicated dietary guidelines that need to be followed. He also assists in communicating concerns back to the patient&rsquo;s primary care physician or other specialist.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I want to be viewed as their guy on the inside who can help decipher the code of healthcare. I&rsquo;ll guide them through the transition from the hospital to home and then make sure they&rsquo;re in touch with the right people who can help them from then on,&rdquo; says Mitchell, who also works with patients treated at American Fork Hospital.</p>
<p>Amber Kayembe, director of Care Management for Intermountain in Utah County, says Joe works with patients for 30 days after they leave the hospital. He then make sure the person&rsquo;s primary care physician is able to provide the necessary support moving forward.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Joe is key to encouraging patients and family caregivers to assume a more active role in their care. By putting this position in place, we&rsquo;re hoping to reduce re-admissions, reduce cost and increase the patient&rsquo;s outcomes and satisfaction with life,&rdquo; says Amber.</p>Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -0600{46646551-BA95-43FE-929D-1776ECE808B4}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2016/11/3d-mammography-provides-best-breast-imaging/3D Mammography Provides the Best in Breast Imaging<p>Life is busy and as women, we&rsquo;re juggling a lot of responsibilities. All too often, our own health falls to the bottom of the &ldquo;to do&rdquo; list and is not a top priority. <a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/02/08/utah-ranks-among-the-lowest-states-for-mammography-screenings/" target="_blank">Utah women continue to rank among the lowest in the nation</a> for getting their annual screening mammogram. </p>
<p>While some women say they don&rsquo;t have enough time, others are fearful of what the results will be. But a screening mammogram is still the most effective way to find breast cancer early &mdash; when it&rsquo;s the most treatable.</p>
<p>3D mammography, or breast tomosynthesis, is a relatively new breast imaging procedure that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration five years ago. This technology captures layered images of the breast from several angles. Similar to turning pages in a book, physicians are then able to use these layered images to examine the breast tissue more accurately &ndash; one layer at a time. </p>
<p>"It improves our ability to catch cancer early," explains <a href="/find-a-doctor/c/cardall-seth-y/" target="_blank">Seth Cardall</a>, a radiologist at <a href="/locations/utah-valley-hospital/" target="_blank">Utah Valley Hospital</a>. "It also reduces the chances of people having to come back in to get a second screening."</p>
<p>As Dr. Cardall suggests, the accuracy of 3D mammograms often eliminates the need for a second screening appointment, something that can save women the worry and hassle associated with a false positive screening. </p>
<h3>Early Detection</h3>
<p>Early detection is the best defense against breast cancer, and 3D mammograms detect cancerous tissues earlier than any other procedure. Research has shown 3D mammography detects 41 percent more of invasive breast cancers, which are usually those that have spread outside of the milk duct into surrounding, healthy tissue. It makes the fine details more visible, helping the physician make a more accurate diagnosis and reducing the number of additional tests or biopsies needed. </p>
<h3>Are 3D Mammograms for Everyone? </h3>
<p>All women who should be undergoing a standard mammogram are also eligible for a 3D mammogram. If you&rsquo;re 40 or older, you should have one every year. Those worried about increased risk (exposure to radiation, etc.) will be happy to know the x-ray dose, compression, and overall patient experience of a 3D mammogram is similar to that of the traditional 2D. </p>
<p>While 3D mammography can be used for routine screening mammography, research suggests that it may be particularly effective for women with dense breast tissue. Clinical studies have shown, however, that all women can benefit from 3D mammography &ndash; regardless of age and breast type or density.</p>Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -0600{54FB02D9-2A29-45A2-98CB-F961CCB31090}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2016/11/seven-research-teams-receive-intermountain-stanford-grant-award/Seven Research Teams Receive Intermountain Stanford Grant Award<p style="margin-top: 0in;">&ldquo;The Intermountain-Stanford grant program is part of an exciting collaboration between Intermountain and Stanford that began almost two years ago and is focused on advancing clinical care best practices, education and training and clinical research in heart disease, cancer, and other conditions. The purpose of the grant award is to spearhead and accelerate research between the two organizations and support innovative projects in research, patient care, and medical education&rdquo; says Laura Kaiser, Intermountain Healthcare&rsquo;s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in;">&ldquo;Our collaboration will foster those scientific discoveries that have potential to improve patient care in both institutions,&rdquo; says David Larson, MD, MBA, co-chair of the Intermountain-Stanford Collaborative Committee and Stanford University School of Medicine&rsquo;s Associate Professor of Pediatric Radiology and Associate Chair of Performance Improvement in the Department of Radiology.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in;">The seed grants, up to $75,000 each, were awarded to projects that will be jointly led by principal investigators from Intermountain and Stanford, and will take effect on November 1, 2016. </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in;">The seven selected projects focus on genomics, machine learning, biomarkers and epidemiology, biomarkers closer to basic science research, networks of care, infectious disease, and telemedicine. Although they&rsquo;re from diverse clinical areas, all the studies are designed to improve patient care. </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in;">Following are the names of the grant recipients and their project titles: </p>
<ul>
<li style="color: black;">Whole-genome DNA sequencing of stage-3 colorectal cancer &mdash; Lincoln Nadauld, MD, PhD, Intermountain precision genomics; James Ford, MD, associate professor of oncology and of genetics at Stanford.</li>
<li style="color: black;">Baseline assessment of hand hygiene practices and ICU microbiology &mdash; Bill Beninati, MD, Intermountain critical care medicine; Arnold Milstein, MD, MPH, professor of medicine at Stanford.</li>
<li style="color: black;">Developing a precision-based approach for the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in the community &mdash; Kirk Knowlton, MD, Intermountain cardiovascular medicine; Francois Haddad, MD, clinical associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford.</li>
<li style="color: black;">Translational approaches to the mechanisms of septic cardiomyopathy &mdash; Samuel Brown, MD, Intermountain critical care medicine; Euan Ashley, MRCP, DPhil, associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford.</li>
<li style="color: black;">Implementation and evaluation of graduating from pediatric to adult care &mdash; Aimee Hersh, MD, department of pediatrics, University of Utah and Intermountain&rsquo;s Primary Children&rsquo;s Hospital; Korey Hood, PhD, clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford.</li>
<li style="color: black;">Impact of donor-derived BK virus infection and immune recovery in kidney transplant recipients &mdash; Diane Alonso, MD, Intermountain transplant services; Benjamin Pinsky, MD, PhD, assistant professor of pathology and of infectious diseases at Stanford.</li>
<li style="color: black;">Development and implementation of a digital health-care program for patients with atrial fibrillation &mdash; Jared Bunch, MD, Intermountain heart-rhythm services; Mintu Turakhia, MD, assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford.</li>
</ul>
<p>&ldquo;We are privileged to collaborate with the Stanford University School of Medicine, a premier medical school and worldwide leader in science and research,&rdquo; says Raj Srivastava, MD, MPH, co-chair of the Intermountain-Stanford Collaborative Committee and AVP of Research at Intermountain Healthcare. &ldquo;We are excited to see these initial projects launch, foster new scientific collaborations focused on improving patient care, and set the stage for the healthcare transformation potential from the Intermountain-Stanford grant program.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Intermountain Healthcare is a Utah-based, not-for-profit system of&nbsp;22 hospitals,&nbsp;185 clinics,&nbsp;a Medical Group with some 1,300 employed physicians, a health plans division called SelectHealth, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare through high quality and sustainable costs.&nbsp; For more information about Intermountain, visit <a href="http://www.intermountainhealthcare.org/">intermountainhealthcare.org</a>, read our blogs at&nbsp;<a href="file:///C:/Users/jquam/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/KPUUBBS3/intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs">intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs</a>, connect with us on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="file:///C:/Users/jquam/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/KPUUBBS3/twitter.com/intermountain">twitter.com/intermountain</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/intermountain">facebook.com/intermountain</a>.</p>Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -0600{29047B0F-696E-40E7-A0E3-F58C7AD84077}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2016/11/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-sex/How To Talk To Your Kids About Sex<p>Today's youth live in a world in which media exposure brings an onslaught of sexual subjects, often divorced from intimacy and presented in superficial and distorted terms. Yet, within American families, a centuries-old legacy has made talking about sex taboo&mdash;even though studies show that kids who grow up in families where sexuality is openly discussed are healthier, happier, and more likely to postpone participation in a range of risky behaviors, including sexual activity.</p>
<p>Still, for many of us, &ldquo;the talk&rdquo; went something like this: Mom and Dad sat you down when you were about 12 years old and announced, amid pauses and nervous seat-shifting, that it was time to learn about "the birds and the bees." The entire talk took two minutes, max, with Dad explaining in clinical terms&mdash;or, even worse, in bizarrely dated slang terms&mdash;the physical mechanics that happen between adults, while you fidgeted in your chair, nodding occasionally in horror. At the first opportunity, you escaped to your room and spent the next few hours trying to erase the talk from your memory. Not an effective method.</p>
<p>Parents today can and should do much better. Even if you&rsquo;re uncomfortable <a href="http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/talking-to-your-kids-about-sex" target="_self">talking about sex</a>, it&rsquo;s critical to your child&rsquo;s development that you start a positive, open dialog. <strong>Parents are the most important sex educators for their children. </strong></p>
<p>So how can you best approach &ldquo;the talk&rdquo; with your children? For starters, you should never think of it as just one discussion. Talking to your child about sex needs to be an ongoing conversation. And you need to start the dialog early. By starting to talk about sexuality at a young age, you spread the discussion over many years and it becomes natural for your child to turn to you with any sex-related questions. If you&rsquo;re not providing your child with answers, he or she is still definitely getting the information, but from friends, the Internet, or other&mdash;probably unreliable&mdash;sources. Children mature and develop on their own timelines, but the following general guideline can suggest when you should start discussing sex-related topics with them. </p>
<h3>Ages 2-3</h3>
<p>Teach the names of private body parts, using clear, simple words, such as &ldquo;penis&rdquo; and &ldquo;vagina.&rdquo;</p>
<h3>Ages 4-5</h3>
<p>Provide a general idea of where babies come from and how they&rsquo;re born. Stick with a literal explanation, in words your child can understand.</p>
<h3>Ages 6-7</h3>
<p>Explain the basic idea about intercourse, using a straightforward explanation.</p>
<h3>Ages 8-11</h3>
<p>Start to introduce more complex topics, including discussing the changes your children&rsquo;s bodies will undergo during puberty and what sex and relationships mean. Be ready to discuss sex-related topics your child may see or hear about in the news. Listen closely to any questions they have and answer them frankly and honestly.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/2015/12/yes-there-are-stds-in-utah" target="_self">Yes, There Are STD's in Utah</a></strong></p>
<h3>Age 12+</h3>
<p>By now, kids are formulating their own values, so check in every so often to provide a better context for the information your child's getting. But avoid overkill or you'll be tuned out.</p>
<h2>What to Consider When Talking About Sex with Your Kids</h2>
<h3>Your values about sex</h3>
Before you start talking about sex with your child, you and your spouse should be clear about your own values and understand how to explain the differences between facts and beliefs. This will lead to a cohesive message and stronger communication.
<h3>Timing</h3>
<p>Again, the earlier you start talking about sex with your child, the better. Hit age-appropriate topics starting at age two and keep the conversation going through the teenage years.</p>
<h3>Setting</h3>
<p>The setting can make a big impact on how the conversations go. It&rsquo;s important to make sure your child feels comfortable asking questions and expressing thoughts.</p>
<h3>Increasing your knowledge</h3>
<p>Parents don&rsquo;t need to be experts on sexuality to have meaningful conversations with their child. However, clearly understanding the basics about men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s bodies, reproduction, and sexuality will help you better explain it to your child. And you can always share your values about sexuality, relationships, and respect for others.</p>
<h3>Tone</h3>
<p>Aim for friendly conversations, especially when talking to older kids. Your child will be more comfortable opening up about his or her thoughts and asking questions about sex when he or she sees you&rsquo;re relaxed. And remember to keep your sense of humor &mdash; the conversation doesn't have to be tense and uncomfortable, unless you make it that way.</p>
<p>Through all of this remember that parents are the most important sex educators for their children. Take this as an opportunity to build trust with your kids, and teach them that throughout their lives they can come to you with anything, no matter what.</p>Fri, 04 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -0600{9F0C5910-A2DA-4DC3-B0DC-1B9F052748E5}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2016/11/benefits-of-recovery-it-does-your-body-and-game-good/The Benefits of Recovery – It Does Your Body (AND YOUR GAME) GoodThe competitive soccer and athletic world continues to apply more pressure and increasing demands on young athletes. &nbsp;There&rsquo;s continual pressure to practice more frequently and longer in duration to keep up with the demands so each athlete and team can reach their highest potential. &nbsp;Unfortunately, this can take a toll on athletes and not allow their bodies adequate time to recover. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
The key message to take away: As an athlete, you should be using recovery techniques constantly throughout the season, as well as at the end of a season. So, what does it mean to recover? This refers to the actions and techniques used to maximize your body&rsquo;s repair. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
There are three main systems in our body that benefit from recovery: structural, hormonal, and neurological.<br />
<br />
<strong>Active Recovery:</strong> Active recovery is usually classified as a low-intensity workout or workout that&rsquo;s easier than your normal routine &mdash; a slow jog, an easy bike ride, stretching, etc. However you choose to unwind from a competition or season can be unique to you. &nbsp;Let&rsquo;s discuss briefly the benefits of stretching and the differences between a dynamic stretch and static stretch. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
A dynamic warmup and stretch allow the muscle tissue to warm up and lengthen simultaneously, whereas a static stretch is commonly known as a &ldquo;hold and stretch.&rdquo; &nbsp;<br />
It&rsquo;s suggested that a dynamic stretch be used prior to a workout or practice, and static stretching be used after your workout or practice. &nbsp;Identify areas that are less flexible than others. Target those areas, but don&rsquo;t neglect the areas that aren&rsquo;t currently &ldquo;on fire&rdquo; or causing pain. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
Some athletes approach stretching as a waste of time or fail to do it because it hurts. &nbsp;Stretching might be somewhat uncomfortable on sore, tight muscles, but shouldn&rsquo;t be painful. Allow enough time in your stretch to give your muscle the chance to become more elastic. &nbsp;A gentle static stretch can be held between 20-40 seconds. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
<p><strong>Passive Rest:</strong> Rest is vital to your body&rsquo;s recovery. It&rsquo;s recommended that athletes get between 7-10 hours of sleep. &nbsp;This valuable time gives your body a chance to recover on many fronts. It allows muscle tissue to replenish needed nutrients and mend damaged tissue. &nbsp;It also allows time for mental recovery. &nbsp;An athlete who is well-rested will have more energy and better focus. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Hydration:</strong> We often think of hydrating prior to a game or practice or only when it&rsquo;s hot outside. &nbsp;But staying hydrated during recovery is important so your body can adequately regulate the temperature of your body, transport nutrients throughout your body to give you energy, digest food, and so on. &nbsp;Approximately 90% of the fluid in your blood is water. &nbsp;Muscle contains approximately 75-80% water. &nbsp; An easy way to check if you&rsquo;re hydrated is to monitor the color of your urine. &nbsp;The lighter the color, the more hydrated you are, and obviously the darker the color the less hydrated you are. &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Nutrition: </strong>It takes time and effort to plan a healthy balanced diet. &nbsp;By replenishing these essential nutrients, our body has what it needs to repair damaged or depleted tissues after the season. &nbsp;Whether you&rsquo;re trying to recover from a season, single game, or on the road without the benefit of your own stash of go-to snacks and food, planning ahead will ensure you have quality nutrients as well as comfortable food your body likes. At TOSH we have two sport dietitians from the TOSH Nutrition Program who can give you guidance individually, or as a team. Call them at 801-314-4038 for an appointment. &nbsp; &nbsp;<br />
<strong><br />
Psychological Rest:</strong> Young athletes have a lot to focus on during the season. &nbsp;Outside of soccer, they have their school work, friends, chores at home&hellip;all of which are very important. &nbsp;However, on top of that their focus goes to the field several days a week and the demands rise from there. &nbsp;Athletes need downtime to relax, refocus, and retool mentally. &nbsp;They&rsquo;ll come back more focused and driven to take the next step in their skill level. &nbsp; &nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Hydrotherapy: </strong>Using ice baths initially after practices and games is beneficial to cool tissue and slow inflammation. &nbsp;A contrast bath, which is the use of alternating warm and cold water, can increase blood vessel pumping to move unwanted swelling from an area and bring needed nutrients to the area to mend damaged tissue.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Please consider taking the time to make recovery a priority in your training regimen. &nbsp;The idea that &ldquo;more is better&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t always the case when dealing with young athletes who need adequate time to rest and recover physically and mentally. &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
If you have any questions, please contact me at laurie.evans@imail.org or at 801-314-4111. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
Remember, TOSH offers a free injury assessment clinic for athletes. If you&rsquo;re dealing with an injury and need to be seen by a certified athletic trainer or physical therapist at TOSH, please call us today at 801-314-4040.</p>Wed, 02 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -0600{A227F074-184A-4784-B112-A1E09D39F2E4}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2016/11/4-immunizations-to-get-before-you-turn-65/4 Immunizations to Get Before You Turn 65The process that Medicare funds vaccines can be complicated because the U.S. Legislature needs to vote in any new services to be paid by Medicare Part B; so because Congress hasn&rsquo;t had that vote, some vaccines are covered only by Part D Medicare.
<div>&nbsp;
<p>After you are 65 and older and are covered by Medicare, some vaccines are paid for by your Part B benefit (two pneumococcal vaccines and your yearly influenza vaccine). Others are only covered by Part D benefit and cannot be provided in your doctor&rsquo;s office, including Zoster/shingles vaccine, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine) or tetanus vaccine. You have to get those Part D vaccines at a pharmacy that provides vaccines, such as <a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/pharmacy/locations/community-pharmacies/">Intermountain&rsquo;s Community Pharmacies</a>.</p>
<p>The good news is if you get those Part D covered vaccines while you are 60-64 years old, you can avoid those Medicare hassles. You can get the vaccines in your doctor&rsquo;s office, and they should be covered by your commercial health insurance.</p>
<p>So, it is best to get up-to-date on all your adult vaccines before your health insurance transitions to Medicare.</p>
<h3>4 immunizations you need to get before turning 65:</h3>
<p>
</p>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Zoster</strong></span><span style="text-indent: -27pt;"><strong>:</strong> After we have chickenpox, the virus still lives in our bodies throughout our lives. When our immune system gets older and doesn&rsquo;t control the virus as well, it can come back as a painful skin disease called &ldquo;Shingles.&rdquo; The Zoster Vaccine reminds our immune system how to protect against the virus and can reduce rate of people getting Shingles as they get older.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Tdap</strong></span><span style="text-indent: -27pt;"><strong>:</strong> We need tetanus boosters on a regular basis; so it is good to get one in the 60-64 year old time frame to make sure we have insurance coverage for it. We also need to have a pertussis vaccine one time when we are an adult to protect us and infants and children we know (like our grandkids) from getting Whooping Cough (or the 100-day cough) that can still be fatal for many infants even with modern medical intervention.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Flu</strong></span><span style="text-indent: -27pt;"><strong>:</strong> Seasonal influenza shots are recommended for everyone, regardless of age. Individuals over 65 years old actually have two choices: the regular flu shot, or &ldquo;high dose.&rdquo; High-dose (brand name Fluzone High-Dose) vaccine contains four times the amount of antigen (the part of the vaccine that prompts the body to make an antibody) contained in regular flu shots. The additional antigen is intended to create a stronger immune response (more antibodies) in the person getting the vaccine.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Pneumococcal</strong></span><span style="text-indent: -27pt;"><strong>:</strong> Individuals that are at higher risk for pneumococcal disease (those over 65 years of age, or individuals who smoke or have asthma) are encouraged to receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria.</span></li>
</ol>
<p>Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect against diseases, limiting discomfort and potential risks not to mention being cheaper and easier than treating the illness itself. Not only does it protect you, but protects loved ones and others around you that are within close contact.&nbsp; See your doctor or health care provider for more information on which vaccinations are recommended for you. You can also see your local <a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/pharmacy/locations/community-pharmacies/" target="_blank">Intermountain Community Pharmacy </a>for information. Find locations at&nbsp;or by calling 800-442-4053.</p>
<p>Additional Resources:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/index.html" target="_blank">What vaccines are recommended for you?&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/2016/04/community-protection-winning-the-vector-battle/" target="_blank">Community Protection:&nbsp; Winning the Vector Battle</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.immunize.org/" target="_blank">Immunization Action Coalition</a></li>
<li>Specific Disease/Immunization Web Page Resources:
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/index.html" target="_blank">Shingles</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/index.html" target="_blank">Tetanus</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/diphtheria/index.html" target="_blank">Diphtheria</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/index.html" target="_blank">Pertussis</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm" target="_blank">Influenza</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/about/index.html" target="_blank">Pneumococcal</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/index.html" target="_blank">Pneumonia</a> </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li>Need a vaccine?&nbsp;<a href="http://intermountainrx.org" target="_blank" style="display: inline !important;">Intermountain Healthcare Pharmacies</a>&nbsp;and click &ldquo;locations&rdquo; or call 800-442-4053.</li>
</ul>
</div>Wed, 02 Nov 2016 00:00:00 -0600{BB37C4BF-C892-4A69-9310-CE3B22C60E6D}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2016/10/a-healthy-dose-of-fear-is-normal/A Healthy Dose of Fear is Normal<p>At its most basic level, &ldquo;fear is a relatively normal response to situations that commonly result from a loss of control or perceived danger,&rdquo; says <a href="/find-a-doctor/w/woozley-jon-b/" target="_blank">Jon Woozley</a>, Physician Assistant with <a href="/locations/utah-valley-heart-and-lung-surgical-associates/" target="_blank">Utah Valley Heart and Lung Surgical Associates</a>. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a response that has kept the human race alive through its entire history.&rdquo;</p>
<h3>So what causes fear?</h3>
<p>When we are frightened, the nervous system responds with a &ldquo;fight or flight&rdquo; response. This causes a number of changes in the body, helping us stay alert and ready to respond to perceived or real threats to our safety.</p>
<p>One of the natural responses to fear is the release of two chemicals that stimulate the heart: epinephrine and norepinephrine. These chemicals result in increased blood pressure and increased heart rate, which prepares the body to perform its natural defensive role when threatened.</p>
<h3>Is fear healthy or unhealthy?</h3>
<p>&ldquo;Fear is a normal response,&rdquo; says Woozley. &ldquo;All humans and most animals experience fear. This response can be paralyzing for some people. Others can learn to be super efficient and effective with this response.&nbsp; Many examples are in the stories of numerous Medal of Honor recipients.&rdquo;</p>
<h3>So what&rsquo;s the correct dose of fear?</h3>
<p>Well, there&rsquo;s no set standard. Just as people perceive fear and threats differently, their take on fear will vary. The goal is to remain functional without overexposure to the stress related to fear.</p>
<p>It&rsquo;s not clear what the long-term effects of fear are, but <em>long-term stress</em> can take its toll on the heart and the mind. Our response to fear lasts until the danger has passed, but our bodies often respond in similar ways to stress, particularly lasting mental stress. The increased blood pressure levels and pulse rates resulting from mental stress put a strain on the heart and can be detrimental to overall health.</p>
<p><strong>RELATED: <a href="/blogs/2015/02/stress-and-heart-disease/" target="_blank">Stress and Heart Disease</a></strong></p>
<p>So while fear may be temporary, and can get the heart pumping and the mind racing, long-term stress may cause lasting health problems.</p>
<h3>How can I be better at responding to fear?</h3>
<p>Because fear affects the heart, it likely won&rsquo;t come as a shock that improving your body&rsquo;s ability to respond to fear comes down to simple heart-healthy behaviors like proper diet, regular exercise that gets the heart pumping, and reducing stress.</p>
<p><strong>RELATED: <a href="/blogs/2014/08/6-tips-to-better-manage-your-stress/" target="_blank">6 Tips to Better Manage Your Stress</a></strong></p>
<p>&ldquo;A healthy heart will be more effective and efficient within the fear pathway,&rdquo; says Woozley. &ldquo;It will improve initial response to fear as well as recovery from fearful episodes.&rdquo;</p>
<p>So go ahead and enjoy that scary movie. But maybe try getting in some exercise before.</p>Mon, 31 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0600{16D31E24-E1E3-4ED9-A856-77AB714E9E24}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2016/10/intermountain-healthcare-featured-at-the-health-it-summit/Intermountain Healthcare Featured At the Health IT Summit<p>Greg Poulsen, Intermountain Healthcare&rsquo;s Senior Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer, spoke on the topic of data being used to improve clinical quality and care. The presentation was part of the Health IT Summit in Washington D.C. </p>
<p><em>Healthcare Informatics</em> detailed Poulsen&rsquo;s talk at the conference and how it relates to data driving healthcare change. Poulsen took the audience through a history lesson as he detailed Intermountain&rsquo;s journey away from the fee-for-service payment model.</p>
<p><strong>RELATED</strong>:&nbsp;<a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/2016/09/predictive-analytics-important-at-intermountain-healthcare" target="_blank">Predictive Analytics Important At Intermountain Healthcare</a></p>
<p>The fee-for-service model has customers pay the hospitals and clinics per the services rendered. The result can lead to excessive care being administered. The healthcare system in the United States has been moving slowly away from this to evidence-based care &ndash; which lowers cost and focuses on population health.</p>
<p>The Affordable Care Act and Medicare and Medicaid changes have accelerated a process that Intermountain started decades earlier.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Those in APMs [alternative payment models] will be far more rewarded than those who stay in fee-for-service. And that&rsquo;s a good thing. It&rsquo;s a tough thing but a good thing,&rdquo; said Greg Poulsen in a quote in the article. </p>
<p>Poulsen also highlighted how chronic illnesses have drastically changed down through the generations. Evidence-based care, through data utilization, can be used to tackle the ever-changing landscape of illnesses and disease. </p>
<p>The article can be viewed at <em>Healthcare Informatics</em> <a href="http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/article/analytics/dc-health-it-summit-intermountain-s-chief-strategy-officer-sees-data-driven-future" target="_blank">website</a>.&nbsp;</p>Fri, 28 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0600{97DF80D7-D01F-4630-9E26-6916AEC2E702}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2016/10/25-years-of-progress-in-the-detection-and-treatment-of-breast-cancer/25 Years of Progress in the Detection and Treatment of Breast Cancer<style>
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<p class="Default">But much of the progress we&rsquo;ve made could be lost, if we abandon our vigilance in screening. Despite scientific advances, one sobering fact remains: ALL women are at risk of developing breast cancer. One in eight women will eventually be diagnosed with this potentially deadly disease.</p>
<p class="Default">And just because you don't have a family history of breast cancer, it doesn't mean you&rsquo;re not at risk. Seventy-five percent of women with newly-diagnosed breast cancers have no family history or any other significant risk factors, like the breast cancer gene.&nbsp;Although the incidence of breast cancer increases as you get older, age isn't necessarily protective; 20 percent of all breast cancers occur in women under 50.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="Default"><strong>RELATED POST:</strong> <em><a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/2016/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-breast-exams" target="_blank">What You Need to Know About Breast Exams</a></em></p>
<p class="Default">There is only one test that has been shown in multiple clinical studies to reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer: screening mammography.&nbsp;To save the most lives, Intermountain Healthcare and I stand with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiologists, and the American College of Surgeons in recommending that women begin annual screening mammography at the age of 40. </p>
<p class="Default">Although this is contrary to the some recently-published, controversial guidelines, our recommendations are supported by the results of multiple clinical trials and other scientific studies.&nbsp;Thousands of lives would be lost if women didn&rsquo;t start annual mammography screenings at age 40.</p>
<div style="position: relative; display: block; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aFXf9v6qaCc" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p class="Default">In addition to traditional film screen and 2D mammography, here are six detection and treatment advancements that have improved patient care in the past 25 years. These advancements can save lives, provided women get screened in time to take advantage of them:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>3D mammography, </strong>also known as digital breast tomosynthesis, is a type of mammogram that improves radiologists' ability to detect breast cancers that may be obscured by overlying tissue. It is acquired along with a 2D digital mammogram, but only adds a few seconds to the overall exam time. It also reduces the number of women called back for additional tests.&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>MRI, </strong>the most sensitive imaging exam in the detection of breast cancer, is reserved for women with a greater than 20&ndash;25 percent lifetime risk of developing the disease. It also is helpful in defining the extent of disease in women already diagnosed. Because it results in more false positive interpretations, it&rsquo;s used primarily in women who fit certain risk criteria.</li>
<li><strong>Non-surgical, or image-guided needle biopsies </strong>have replaced open surgical biopsies in the diagnosis of breast cancer. &nbsp;For the most part, only those women with breast cancer or high-risk lesions undergo surgery.&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Sentinel lymph node biopsies, </strong>performed at the time of cancer surgery,<strong>&nbsp;</strong>allow surgeons&nbsp;to biopsy just one lymph node for diagnosis, instead of &nbsp;removing all of the axillary lymph nodes.&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Advances in pathological testing of tumor markers&nbsp;</strong>has greatly improved diagnostic accuracy, often determining which patients will benefit from chemotherapy and what sort of treatments may be most beneficial.</li>
<li><strong>Targeted chemotherapy </strong>personalizes the care we offer each of our patients, so they don&rsquo;t receive more or less treatment than they need.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<p class="Default">Any woman &mdash; regardless of her age &mdash; with a breast lump or other concerning symptoms should consult her primary care provider for a clinical breast exam. This may be followed by a mammogram, ultrasound, or both. Other worrisome symptoms include skin changes/itching involving the nipple-areolar complex, clear or bloody nipple discharge, thickening, or a change on self-examination. Don't ignore these signs.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="Default"><strong>RELATED POST:</strong> <em><a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/2015/03/know-what-the-breast-cancer-gene-means-to-you" target="_blank">Know What the Breast Cancer Gene Means to You</a></em></p>
<p class="Default">Far too many women still die from breast cancer. By detecting it at its earliest, most-treatable stage, the death rate will continue to plummet. We do not yet have the knowledge to prevent cancer, but we certainly have the tools to minimize its impact. And the best tool we have is screening mammography. If you&rsquo;re 40 or older, and haven't had a mammogram in over a year, schedule one today. It may save your life.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="Default">To continue the downward trend in breast cancer deaths, we must ensure that screening continue to be covered by insurance. A congressional mandate that requires insurance carriers to provide annual screening benefits, starting at age 40, will expire on December 31, 2017, unless our representatives act to extend it. Be proactive: Let your government leaders know you support insurance coverage for annual screening beginning at age 40. When the time comes, and the issue is on the congressional docket, let your voice be heard!</p>Thu, 27 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0600{69CA1F77-9BC1-4951-AD27-4EEA53F6650E}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2016/10/children-with-food-allergies-trick-or-treat-teal-pumpkin/Children with Food Allergies can Find Friendly Trick-or-Treat Options at Homes with a Teal Pumpkin on the Porch&ldquo;Many families with food allergies participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project, which provides safe locations for children with food allergies to trick-or-treat,&rdquo; says Allie Osborn, clinical and outpatient dietician at Intermountain Riverton Hospital.&nbsp;
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<div><strong>RELATED POST:</strong> <a href="https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/2016/10/these-8-foods-cause-the-most-allergic-reactions" target="_blank">These 8 Foods Cause the Most Allergic Reactions</a><br />
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<p>Families can participate by painting a pumpkin the color teal and putting it on their front porch. That is a signal that their home is also giving out non-food trick or treat items, such as small toys, stickers, glow sticks, pencils, erasers, etc., in addition to candy. The project currently exists in 50 states and 14 countries.</p>
<p>The project works two ways. Families and friends of children with food allergies can add their home to the <a href="http://www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumpkin-project/about#" target="_blank">crowd-sourced map</a>. WAalopMrLBI, which identifies houses in their area that cater to those with food allergies. Parents can also use the website to find other participating homes in their area, so they can know where to take their child with a food allergy to trick-or-treat.</p>
<p>Osborn adds these trick or treat cautions for parents of children with food allergies. &ldquo;Common allergens like milk, nuts, wheat, eggs, or soy are often found in candy given out on Halloween night,&rdquo; says Osborn. Many fun-size versions of candy contain different ingredients than the full-size versions, and many may not have labels, so it is difficult for parents to know which items are safe for their child to eat.</p>
&ldquo;Parents should thoroughly sort through their child&rsquo;s candy if their child has a food allergy,&rdquo; says Osborn. &ldquo;When in doubt, throw it out or give it away,&rdquo; she adds.</div>
<div>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<p><strong>RESOURCES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.utahfoodallergy.org/" target="_blank">Utah Food Allergy Network</a></li>
</ul>
<p><em>* Photo credit: Grace Beldock</em></p>
</div>Thu, 27 Oct 2016 00:00:00 -0600